KEY CONCEPTS

BINOMIAL EXPONENTIAL & LOGARITHMIC SERIES

1. BINOMIAL THEOREM :
The formula by which any positive integral power of a binomial expression can be expanded in
the form of a series is known as BINOMIAL THEOREM .
If x , y R and n N, then ;
n
(x + y)n = nC0 xn + nC1 xn 1 y + nC2 xn 2y2 + ..... + nCr xn ryr + ..... + nCnyn = nC
r xn – r yr.
r 0
This theorem can be proved by Induction .
OBSERVATIONS :
(i) The number of terms in the expansion is (n + 1) i.e. one or more than the index .
(ii) The sum of the indices of x & y in each term is n .
(iii) The binomial coefficients of the terms nC0 , nC1 .... equidistant from the beginning and the end are
equal.
2. IMPORTANT TERMS IN THE BINOMIAL EXPANSION ARE :
(i) General term (ii) Middle term
(iii) Term independent of x & (iv) Numerically greatest term
(i) The general term or the (r + 1)th term in the expansion of (x + y)n is given by ;
Tr+1 = nCr xn r . yr
(ii) The middle term(s) is the expansion of (x + y)n is (are) :
(a) If n is even , there is only one middle term which is given by ;
T(n+2)/2 = nCn/2 . xn/2 . yn/2
(b) If n is odd , there are two middle terms which are :
T(n+1)/2 & T[(n+1)/2]+1
(iii) Term independent of x contains no x ; Hence find the value of r for which the exponent of x is zero.
(iv) To find the Numerically greatest term is the expansion of (1 + x)n , n N find
n r
Tr 1 Cr x n r 1
n r 1
x . Put the absolute value of x & find the value of r Consistent with the
Tr C r 1x r
Tr 1
inequality > 1.
Tr
Note that the Numerically greatest term in the expansion of (1 x)n , x > 0 , n N is the same
as the greatest term in (1 + x)n .
n
3. If A B = I + f, where I & n are positive integers, n being odd and 0 < f < 1, then
(I + f) . f = Kn where A B2 = K > 0 & A B < 1.
If n is an even integer, then (I + f) (1 f) = Kn.
4. BINOMIAL COEFFICIENTS :
(i) C0 + C1 + C2 + ....... + Cn = 2n
(ii) C0 + C2 + C4 + ....... = C1 + C3 + C5 + ....... = 2n 1

(2 n) !
(iii) C0² + C1² + C2² + .... + Cn² = 2nCn =
n! n!
(2n )!
(iv) C0.Cr + C1.Cr+1 + C2.Cr+2 + ... + Cn r.Cn =
(n r ) ( n r )!

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 REMEMBER :
(i) (2n)! = 2n . n! [1. 3. 5 ...... (2n 1)]

5. BINOMIAL THEOREM FOR NEGATIVE OR FRACTIONAL INDICES :

n (n 1) 2 n ( n 1) (n 2) 3
If n Q , then (1 + x)n = 1 n x x x ...... Provided | x | < 1.
2! 3!
Note :
(i) When the index n is a positive integer the number of terms in the expansion of
(1 + x)n is finite i.e. (n + 1) & the coefficient of successive terms are :
nC , nC , nC , nC ..... nC
0 1 2 3 n
(ii) When the index is other than a positive integer such as negative integer or fraction, the number of
terms in the expansion of (1 + x)n is infinite and the symbol nCr cannot be used to denote the
Coefficient of the general term .
(iii) Following expansion should be remembered ( x < 1).
(a) (1 + x) 1 = 1 x + x2 x3 + x4 .... (b) (1 x) 1 = 1 + x + x2 + x3 + x4 + ....
2 2 3
(c) (1 + x) = 1 2x + 3x 4x + .... (d) (1 x) 2 = 1 + 2x + 3x2 + 4x3 + .....
(iv) The expansions in ascending powers of x are only valid if x is ‘small’. If x is large i.e. | x | > 1 then
1
we may find it convinient to expand in powers of , which then will be small.
x
6. APPROXIMATIONS :
n ( n 1) n ( n 1) (n 2) 3
(1 + x)n = 1 + nx + x² + x .....
1 .2 1 . 2 .3
If x < 1, the terms of the above expansion go on decreasing and if x be very small, a stage may be
reached when we may neglect the terms containing higher powers of x in the expansion. Thus, if x be
so small that its squares and higher powers may be neglected then (1 + x)n = 1 + nx, approximately.
This is an approximate value of (1 + x)n.
7. EXPONENTIAL SERIES :
x2 x3
n
x 1
(i) ex = 1 + ....... ; where x may be any real or complex & e = Limit
n
1
n
1! 2! 3!
x x2 2 x3 3
(ii) ax = 1 + ln a ln a ln a ....... where a > 0
1! 2! 3!
Note :
1 1 1
(a) e=1+ .......
1! 2! 3!
(b) e is an irrational number lying between 2.7 & 2.8. Its value correct upto 10 places of decimal is
2.7182818284.
1 1 1
(c) e+e 1=2 1 .......
2! 4! 6!

1 1 1
(d) e e 1=2 1 .......
3! 5! 7!
(e) Logarithms to the base ‘e’ are known as the Napierian system, so named after Napier, their inventor.
They are also called Natural Logarithm.

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8. LOGARITHMIC SERIES :
x2 x3 x4
(i) ln (1+ x) = x ....... where 1 < x 1
2 3 4

x2 x3 x4
(ii) ln (1 x) = x ....... where 1 x < 1
2 3 4

(1 x ) x3 x5
(iii) ln =2 x ...... x <1
(1 x ) 3 5

1 1 1
REMEMBER : (a) 1 +... = ln 2 (b) eln x = x
2 3 4
(c) ln2 = 0.693 (d) ln10 = 2.303
EXERCISE–I
11 11
2 1 1
Q.1 Find the coefficients : (i) x7 in a x (ii) x 7 in ax
bx bx 2
(iii) Find the relation between a & b , so that these coefficients are equal.
Q.2 If the coefficients of the rth, (r + 1)th & (r + 2)th terms in the expansion of (1 + x)14 are in AP,
find r.
10 8
x 3 1 1/ 3 1/ 5
Q.3 Find the term independent of x in the expansion of (a) (b) x x
3 2x 2 2
Q.4 If the coefficients of 2nd , 3rd & 4th terms in the expansion of (1 + x)2n are in AP, show that
2n² 9n + 7 = 0.
Q.5 Given that (1 + x + x²)n = a0 + a1x + a2x² + .... + a2nx2n , find the values of :
(i) a0 + a1 + a2 + ..... + a2n ; (ii) a0 a1 + a2 a3 ..... + a2n ; (iii) a02 a12 + a22 a32 + ..... + a2n2
Q.6 If a, b, c & d are the coefficients of any four consecutive terms in the expansion of (1 + x)n, n N,
a c 2b
prove that a b c d b c.
8
2 log
5
4 x 44 1
Q.7 Find the value of x for which the fourth term in the expansion, 5 5
is 336.
log 5 3 2 x 1
7
5
Q.8 Prove that : n 1C n 2C + n 3C + .... + rC = nC .
r+ r r r r+1

Q.9 (a) Which is larger : (9950 + 10050) or (101)50.

4n
(b) Show that 2n–2C
n–2 + 2.2n–2Cn–1 + 2n–2Cn > ,n N, n 2
n 1
11
7
Q.10 In the expansion of 1 x find the term not containing x.
x
Q.11 Show that coefficient of x5 in the expansion of (1 + x²)5 . (1 + x)4 is 60.
Q.12 Find the coefficient of x4 in the expansion of :
(i) (1 + x + x2 + x3)11 (ii) (2 x + 3x2)6

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Q.13 Find numerically the greatest term in the expansion of :
3 1
(i) (2 + 3x)9 when x = (ii) (3 5x)15 when x =
2 5
2 n
q 1 q 1 q 1
Q.14 Given sn= 1 + q + q² + ..... + qn & Sn = 1 + + 2
+ .... + 2
, q 1,
2
prove that n+1C + n+1C2.s1 + n+1C3.s2 +....+ n+1Cn+1.sn = 2n . Sn .
1

Q.15 Prove that the ratio of the coefficient of x10 in (1 x²)10 & the term independent of x in
10
2
x is 1 : 32 .
x
n 4
Q.16 Let (1+x²)² . (1+x)n = a K . x K . If a1 , a2 & a3 are in AP, find n.
K 0

(1 x n )(1 x n 1 )(1 x n 2 )..................(1 x n r 1

)
Q.17 If nJ , prove that nJn – r = nJr..
r= 2 3
(1 x )(1 x )(1 x )..................(1 x ) r

n
n
Q.18 Prove that C K sin Kx . cos( n K ) x 2n 1
sin nx .
K 0

Q.19 The expressions 1 + x, 1+x + x2, 1 + x + x2 + x3,............. 1 + x + x2 +........... + xn are multiplied

together and the terms of the product thus obtained are arranged in increasing powers of x in the form of
a0 + a1x + a2x2 +................., then,
(a) how many terms are there in the product.
(b) show that the coefficients of the terms in the product, equidistant from the beginning and end are equal.
(n 1)!
(c) show that the sum of the odd coefficients = the sum of the even coefficients =
2
Q.20 Find the coeff. of (a) x6 in the expansion of (ax² + bx + c)9 .
(b) x2 y3 z4 in the expansion of (ax by + cz)9 .
(c) a2 b3 c4 d in the expansion of (a – b – c + d)10.
2n 2n
Q.21 If a r ( x 2) r b r ( x 3) r & ak = 1 for all k n, then show that bn = 2n+1Cn+1.
r 0 r 0

Q.22 Find the coefficient of xr in the expression of :

(x + 3)n 1 + (x + 3)n 2 (x + 2) + (x + 3)n 3 (x + 2)2 + ..... + (x + 2)n 1

n
x 2
Q.23(a) Find the index n of the binomial if the 9th term of the expansion has numerically the
5 5
greatest coefficient (n N) .
(b) For which positive values of x is the fourth term in the expansion of (5 + 3x)10 is the greatest.
(72)!
Q.24 Prove that 1 is divisible by 73.
36! 2

Q.25 Find the number of divisors of the number

N = 2000C1 + 2 · 2000C2 + 3 · 2000C3 + ...... + 2000 · 2000C2000.
Q.26 Show that the integral part in each of the following is odd. n N
n n n
(A) 5 2 6 (B) 8 3 7 (C) 6 35

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Q.27 Show that the integral part in each of the following is even. n N
2n 1 2n 1
(A) 3 3 5 (B) 5 5 11

Q.28 If 7 4 3 n = p+ where n & p are positive integers and is a proper fraction show that
(1 ) (p + ) = 1.
2001
1
Q.29 Find the sum of the roots (real or complex) of the equation x2001 + x = 0.
2
n
Q.30 Let I denotes the integral part & F the proper fractional part of 3 5 where n N and if
denotes the rational part and the irrational part of the same, show that
1 1
= (I + 1) and = (I + 2 F 1).
2 2

EXERCISE–II
(On combinatorial coefficients)
If C0 , C1 , C2 , ..... , Cn are the combinatorial coefficients in the expansion of (1 + x) n,
n N , then prove the following :
2n !
Q.1 C0² + C1² + C2² +.....+ Cn² = (This result is to be remembered)
n! n!
2n !
Q.2 C0 C1 + C1 C2 + C2 C3 +....+Cn 1 Cn =
(n 1)! (n 1)!
Q.3 C1 + 2C2 + 3C3 +.....+ n . Cn = n . 2n 1

Q.4 C0 + 2C1 + 3C2 +.....+ (n+1)Cn = (n+2)2n 1

Q.5 C0 + 3C1 + 5C2 +.....+ (2n+1)Cn = (n+1) 2n

n
Q.6 (C0+C1)(C1+C2)(C2+C3) ..... (Cn 1+Cn) = C 0 . C1 . C 2 .... C n 1 (n 1)
n!
Q.7 If Pn denotes the product of all the coefficients in the expansion of (1 + x)n, n N, show that,
Pn 1 ( n 1) n
.
Pn n!
C1 2 C2 3C3 n.Cn n (n 1)
Q.8 .......
C0 C1 C2 Cn 1 2

2 2 . C1 23 . C 2 24 .C3 2n 1 .C n 3n 1 1
Q.9 2 . Co + ......
2 3 4 n 1 n 1
2 n!
Q.10 CoCr + C1Cr+1 + C2Cr+2 + .... + Cn r Cn =
(n r)! ( n r )!
C1 C2 Cn 1
Q.11 Co ...... ( 1) n
2 3 n 1 n 1
(n 1) (2 n)!
Q.12 1 . Co² + 3 . C1² + 5 . C2² + ..... + (2n+1) Cn² =
n! n!
Q.13 If a0 , a1 , a2 , ..... be the coefficients in the expansion of (1 + x + x²)n in ascending
powers of x , then prove that : (i) a0 a1 a1 a2 + a2 a3 .... = 0 .
(ii) a0a2 a1a3 + a2a4 ..... + a2n 2 a2n = an + 1 or an–1.
(iii) E1 = E2 = E3 = 3n 1 ; where E1= a0 + a3 + a6 + ..... ; E2 = a1 + a4 + a7 + ..... &
E3 = a2 + a5 + a8 + .....
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Q.14 If (1+x)n = C0 + C1x + C2x² + .... + Cn xn , then show that the sum of the products of the C i ’ s
Ci C j 2 n!
taken two at a time , represented by is equal to 22n 1 .
0 i j n 2 (n !) 2
Q.15 If (1 + x + x² + ... + xp)n = a0 + a1x + a2x²+...+anp. xnp , then find the value of :
a1 + 2a2 + 3a3 + .... + np . anp
Q.16 1². C0 + 2². C1 + 3². C2 + 4². C3 + .... + (n+1)² Cn = 2n 2 (n+1) (n+4) .
C1 C2 2 C3 3 Cn (1 x ) n 1 1
Q.17 C0 + x x x ....... . xn =
2 3 4 n 1 (n 1) x

Q.18 C0 C2 C4 2n
........
1 3 5 n 1
C0 C1 C2 C3 Cn 1 n . 2n 1
Q.19 ........
2 3 4 5 n 2 ( n 1) (n 2)
(4 n 1)!
Q.20 Prove that , (2nC1)²+ 2 . (2nC2)² + 3 . (2nC3)² + ... + 2n . (2nC2n)² = 2
(2 n 1) !
EXERCISE–III
Q.1 If in the expansion of (1 + x)m (1 x)n, the co-efficients of x and x2 are 3 and 6 respectively, then
m is : [JEE '99, 2 (Out of 200)]
(A) 6 (B) 9 (C) 12 (D) 24

n n n
Q.2 For 2 r n, + 2 + =
r r 1 r 2
n 1 n 1 n 2 n 2
(A) (B) 2 (C) 2 (D)
r 1 r 1 r r

n
Q.3 For any positive integers m , n (with n m) , let = nCm . Prove that
m
n n 1 n 2 m n 1
+ + + ........ + =
m m m m m 1
Hence or otherwise prove that ,
n n 1 n 2 m n 2
+ 2 + 3 + ........ + (n m + 1) = .
m m m m m 2
[ JEE '2000 (Mains), 6 ]

Q.4 Find the largest co-efficient in the expansion of (1 + x) n , given that the sum of
co-efficients of the terms in its expansion is 4096 . [REE '2000 (Mains)]

a
Q.5 In the binomial expansion of (a – b)n, n > 5, the sum of the 5th and 6th terms is zero. Then equals
b
n 5 n 4 5 6
(A) (B) (C) (D)
6 5 n 4 n 5
[ JEE '2001 (Screening), 3]

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Q.6 Find the coeffcient of x49 in the polynomial [ REE '2001 (Mains) , 3 ]
C1 C2 C3 C
x x 22 x 32 ................. x 50 2 50 where Cr = 50Cr .
C0 C1 C2 C 49
m
10 20 p
Q.7 The sum i m i , (where q = 0 if P < q ) is maximum when m is
i 0
(A) 5 (B) 10 (C) 15 (D) 20
[ JEE '2002 (Screening) , 3 ]
Q.8(a) Coefficient of t24 in the expansion of (1+ t2)12 (1 + t12) (1 + t24) is
(A) 12C6 + 2 (B) 12C6 + 1 (C) 12C6 (D) none
[JEE 2003, Screening 3 out of 60]
n n n n 1 n n 2 K n n K n
(b) Prove that : 2K . 0 K – 2K–1 1 K 1 + 2K–2 2 K 2 ...... (–1) K 0 K .
[JEE 2003, Mains-2 out of 60]
Q.9 n–1C = (K2 – 3).nCr+1, if K
r
(A) [– 3 , 3 ] (B) (– , – 2) (C) (2, ) (D) ( 3 , 2]
[JEE 2004 (Screening)]

30 30 30 30 30 30 30 30 n n
Q.10 The value of 0 10 – 1 11 + 2 12 ........ + 20 30 is, where r = Cr.

30 30 60 31
(A) 10 (B) 15 (C) 30 (D) 10
[JEE 2005 (Screening)]

EXERCISE–I
6 5

Q.1 (i) 11C a (ii) 11C a (iii) ab = 1 Q.2 r = 5 or 9 Q.3 (a)

5
(b) T6 =7
5 b5 6 b6 12
Q.5 (i) 3n (ii) 1, (iii) an Q.7 x = 0 or 1 5
Q.9 (a)10150 (Prove that 10150 9950 = 10050 + some +ive qty) Q.10 1+ 11C
2k . 2kC
k 7k
k 1
7.313
Q.12 (i) 990 (ii) 3660 Q.13 (i) T7 = (ii) 455 x 312 Q.16 n = 2 or 3 or 4
2
2
n n 2
Q.19 (a) Q.20 (a) 84b6c3 + 630ab4c4 + 756a2b2c5 + 84a3c6; (b) 1260 . a2b3c4 ; (c) 12600
2
5 20
Q.22 nCr (3n r 2n r) Q.23 (a) n = 12 (b) < x < Q.25 8016 Q.29 500
8 21
EXERCISE–II
np
Q15 Differentiate the given expn. & put x = 1 to get the result (p+1)n
2
1
Q.18 Consider [(1+x)n + (1 x)n] = C0 + C2x² + C4x4 + ..... Integrate between 0 & 1.
2
Q.19 Multiply both sides by x the expn. (1+x)n . Integrate both sides between 0 & 1.
EXERCISE–III
Q.1 C Q.2 D Q.4 12C Q.5 B
6
Q.6 – 22100 Q.7 C Q.8 (a) A Q.9 D Q.10 A
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